California senators and wildfire experts press rollout of ‘Zone 0’ defensible-space rules for first 5 feet around homes

The California State Senate’s Joint Natural Resources and Water and Budget Subcommittee 2 convened a hearing to review the status of proposed “Zone 0” defensible-space regulations and related wildfire mitigation, inspection and funding efforts.

The hearing brought together officials from the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), local fire chiefs, researchers and industry representatives to discuss the science behind clearing combustible materials from the first five feet around buildings, the state rulemaking timeline and how inspection, assistance and home-hardening programs will be scaled and funded.

Why it matters: Wildfires in recent years have destroyed thousands of homes and research cited at the hearing shows ember-driven ignitions of materials immediately adjacent to a structure are a central cause of home loss. Proponents say the first five feet — dubbed Zone 0 — is the area most likely to catch embers and cause the home itself to ignite.

Dan Stapleton, assistant executive officer for the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, told the committee: "It's a new defensible space zone within the first 5 feet of a home or building." Stapleton summarized the board's process to date, saying the board formed multi-agency workgroups, gathered the latest science and published draft regulatory language and guidance for public workshops.

Stapleton said the board’s March draft “states that no landscaping or other materials that are likely to be ignited by embers are gonna be in Zone 0,” but noted limited exceptions under the draft (for example, certain small potted plants under specified conditions and trees allowed only if taller than the roof and properly limbed).

State Fire Marshal Daniel Berlant described CAL FIRE’s inspection capacity and outreach. "Our goal is to visit every home once every three years," he said, adding the department set an annual inspection goal of…